ANSERES. 37 



of all is considered a great delicacy. The birds do not feed 

 entirely in the water, but may often be found on the land, 

 especially during the summer months. 



27. (132.) ANAS BOSCHAS Linn. 247. 



Mallard. 



Synonyms: Anas domestica. 



Kirtland, Preliminary Report, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 67. 



The Mallard is locally common during the migrations, 

 but it is almost absent from many localities. It breeds irreg- 

 ularly from the southern border of the state at least to Co- 

 lumbus, and seems rather more common as a summer resi- 

 dent in the northern half, but is very local in its summer dis- 

 tribution anywhere in the state. It is seldom that anything 

 but small flocks are seen in the migrations. At the lakes 

 and marshes they may be found in greater numbers to- 

 gether. It is probably true that males of this species may be 

 found during the summer much farther south and in many 

 localities in the state where there are no breeding females. 

 The males are wanderers and apparently have no care for 

 the brood. 



The migrations of the Mallard begin during the first 

 week in March, at Oberlin, and continue well toward the 

 close of the month. Individuals that were clearly migrating 

 have been seen as late as the middle of April. The south- 

 ward migrations are at their height about the middle of 

 November, but vary with the weather. 



28. (133.) ANAS OBSCURA Gmel. 248. 



Black Duck. 



Synonym: Dusky Duck. 



Kirtland, Preliminary Report, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 67. 



The recent division of this species into two forms makes it 

 doubtful what the status of the two forms for Ohio is. An 

 examination of skins in two collections indicates that this 

 form is the less common in Ohio. 



Dr. Wheaton regarded the Black Duck as a casual sum- 



